Ever wished for a mind-boggling question not to appear for an exam at Manipal University? You cross your fingers or not, eventually it all depends on that single examination paper that is randomly handpicked from a whole bundle of similar question papers structured for the exam. And this task of random handpicking is performed by Mr. Narayan Rao, the controller of examination at Manipal University (India) who was recently on a visit to Manipal University in Dubai. Kulsoom Ali, a third year student of Media and Communications, specializing in print media, questioned him with reference to the backstage task of examination control practiced at Manipal University, Dubai.
Kulsoom Ali: Welcome to Manipal University, Dubai campus. How is your experience as a first visit to our new campus at Academic City?
Narayan Rao: Thank you for the warm welcome. Frankly speaking, this is a beautiful campus. Unpredictably, the weather is also pleasant, reversing to what I calculated it to be. So far, it has been a relaxing trip.
KA: Having said that, what observations have you gauged so far, with specific reference to educational bearing and the MBA students currently appearing for the examinations at the campus?
NR: One of the first few things that I noticed were the students’ relaxed expressions even though they were appearing for exams. I observed the examination practice during the exam conducted for MBA yesterday and believe me, I was contented. Everything is flowing smooth – from attentive supervision to proper control of students in the examination hall.
KA: Everything has a room for improvement. What would you as a controller of examination suggest further developments or improvements in the current examination practice held at the Dubai campus?
NR: Yes, definitely. Everything is in place here but as regards examinations, according to me, an individual hall solely dedicated to conduct examinations must be allotted. It is easy to network and conduct exams in a huge hall with careful supervision. Normally, universities do have such halls, commonly referred to as conference halls. The room may not necessarily be utilized for exams alone. During regular study sessions at the university, several meetings and important conferences can be held in the same room.
Mr. Narayan Rao during the interview. Photograph by Kulsoom Ali.KA: The purpose of your visit to the Dubai campus is to scrutinize the examination practice since you are the controller of examination at the Manipal University. Could you please outline your profession as a controller of examination?
NR: I have been with Manipal University since June, 1959. Earlier, I was a teacher of pharmaceutical chemistry and later took the job of an examination controller. In simple words, my job is to conduct examinations. I receive sets of question papers from each Board of Studies (different subjects) that are collected in a question bank. I am licensed to randomly pick a set of question paper and that becomes the final exam paper to be given to the concerned departments of the university. No one knows which set of paper has been selected till the time it is handed to students in the examination hall. After the examination is conducted and marks forwarded to me by the faculty, I assign grades according to the cut-offs (grade allotment) that are decided by the Board of Studies. The final result with GPA calculation is prepared and sent to the concerned departments for immediate release. The results are published within ten days after the last examination.
(For an in-depth article on the complete procedure of examination control and result preparation, please click here.)
KA: But how is it that the results are not published within ten days in the Dubai campus?
NR: Yes that’s true; it takes time to publish results in the Dubai campus. It is due to difficulty in communication and message transfer. Plus, the result is emailed from India that takes time.
KA: With fast growing technology and at the click of a button, does email take considerable amount of time to complicate the pace of communication leading to a delay in publishing the results?
NR: Sometimes emails don’t reach across countries at a quick pace. This causes a delay plus the external evaluators in Dubai are difficult to find. Unless you find one, how can the evaluation be quick because it is a systematic process that requires a thorough effort.
KA: Yes, your latter part of the answer satisfies the impatience that surfaces in us (students) who anxiously wait for a quick release of results after the examinations! Well, thank you so much for your time sir. It was a great pleasure meeting you!